Revolving Doors

Linda Reynolds

Linda Reynolds

Liberal Party | Military | Revolving Doors

The “spruiker-in-chief” of defence industry has been involved with promoting military industry interests since the late 1980s when she co-founded the WA Defence Industry Council. Reynolds combined a career in the army reserves with political staffing roles for the Liberals, and a stint with industry giant Raytheon, before becoming a senator for WA in 2014. From 2 March 2019, she served as Minister for Defence Industry before being promoted to Defence Minister on 29 May 2019.

Current Positions

Previous Positions

Federal ministerial and cabinet positions

  • Cabinet minister (2.3.19–present), including Minister for Defence Industry (2.3.19–29.5.19) and Minister for Emergency Management and North Queensland Recovery (2.3.19–29.5.19)
  • Assistant Minister for Home Affairs (28.8.18–2.3.19)

Military positions

  • Army Adjutant General (Brigadier) (2012–2013)
  • Senior Training and Development Officer, Australian Command and Staff College (1999–2000)
  • Australian Army Reserve (1984–2012)

Political and public administrative positions

  • Director, Army Strategic Reform Program (2009–2010)
  • Project Director, Army-based Accountability Model Implementation Project (2008–2009)
  • Deputy Federal Director and National Training Director, Liberal Party (2006–2008)
  • Project Director/Strategic Performance and training Analyst, Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (NASA/JPL facility) (2004)
  • Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Adviser to Chris Ellison, Minister for Justice and Customs (2001–2003)
  • Liberal Party Senior Government Training Manager and Senior Campaign Officer (1996–1998)
  • Electoral Officer and Shadow Ministerial Adviser for Federal Liberal parliamentarians Fred Chaney and Judi Moylan (1990–1994)​

Source for all the above here, except where (or in addition to) alternative links provided

Revolving Door

Director, Strategy Development, Raytheon Australia (2005)

Co-founder, WA Defence Industry Council (late 1980s)

Brothers-in-Arms: the high-rotation revolving door between the Australian government and arms merchants

Related Items

7.6.18 Defence Connect podcast: Reynolds reveals she is called the “spruiker-in-chief for defence industry” in WA. (~9:20 min/38:36). At the time of making this remark Reynolds was Chair of one of the two senate committees on defence, and Deputy Chair of the other one.

James is studying a bachelor of Communication (Journalism) at the University of Technology Sydney. He is a producer at 2SER radio and contributor at UTS’s Central News.

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